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Strong start unravels for Northern Michigan University women’s basketball team in 2nd half of 66-60 loss to Ferris State

Northern Michigan University’s Emily Mueller, second from right, hauls in a rebound in the first quarter of a GLIAC women’s basketball game played against Ferris State at the Berry Events Center in Marquette on Thursday. Also in on the play are Ferris’ Chloe Idoni, Emilee Kott and the Wildcats’ Erin Honkala. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

MARQUETTE — For the second straight game, an opportunity slipped away from the Northern Michigan University women’s basketball team.

After being dealt a heartbreaking last-second loss at Wisconsin-Parkside on Saturday, the Wildcats hoped to bounce back against Ferris State Thursday.

Through the first half, it looked like they were going to do so.

However, the Bulldogs rallied in the second half and handed NMU its second straight defeat, 66-60. The loss drops the Wildcats (7-9, 4-4 GLIAC) into fourth place in the North Division, one game behind Ferris (11-5, 5-3) and Michigan Tech (7-8, 5-3).

Jessica Schultz led the Wildcats with 19 points and also scored her 1,000th career point.

The first quarter was a seesaw battle as the teams were tied 10-10 late. However, Wildcats guard Liz Lutz hit a trey with 22 seconds left to help Northern take a 13-12 lead into the second.

NMU built its lead to 19-12 on back-to-back triples from Makaylee Kuhn and Lutz. Later in the quarter, a 3-pointer from former Marquette Redette Amber Huebner and a layup from Emily Mueller gave the Wildcats their largest advantage of the game, 24-14.

Ferris pulled within four at 24-20, but Mueller answered with a three-point play. Schultz then hit a trey at the buzzer to put Northern up 30-22 at the half.

Things started to unravel for the Wildcats after the intermission as the Bulldogs opened the second half on a 11-1 runs to take a 33-31 lead. NMU’s Elena Alaix knocked down a triple and Mueller put in a bucket to tie it 36-36, but Ferris held a slim 43-42 advantage after the third.

Schultz started the fourth quarter with a layup, but Ferris still led 55-47 with four minutes remaining.

Northern didn’t go away, though. It fought back to get within two at 60-58, thanks to a bucket from Kuhn and a trey from Schultz, but Ferris wouldn’t be denied as it closed out the win.

NMU hosts Lake Superior State at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Writer Ryan Stieg. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.

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